By Rhonda Campbell
Teenagers aren’t the only workers for whom the advantages of working summer jobs apply. Teachers and seasonal workers, including administrative staff at colleges and universities, can also reap the benefits associated with working for employers during the summer.
Advantages of Working Summer Jobs
The chance to earn extra money isn’t the only benefit gained from working during the summer. To begin, many summer jobs offer:
- Short commutes (many summer jobs are located in communities where job seekers work)
- Reasonable work hours (a lot of summer job have set work hours)
- Less stressful work
- Increased opportunities to work with friends
- Valuable work experience for teens and adults re-entering the job market
- Opportunities to make an impression on employers, impressions that could lead to full-time work (if that’s what teens and adults are looking for)
- Overtime pay
This summer there may be another perk. According to a recent Snag A Job survey, 44 percent of employers in retail, food service and hospitality industries expect to boost their hiring during the summer of 2015. The sooner teens seeking temporary roles start looking and applying for summer jobs, the better. Why? Summer jobs are often filled by the end of May.
Employers want workers who are committed to working throughout the summer, not just for a few weeks. An upbeat attitudes is a plus. Because students at the high school and college levels will be vying for many of these jobs, adults seeking summer work should consider submitting applications to employers as soon as possible, perhaps as early as the end of winter or the start of spring.
Tips to Secure Summer Jobs
It’s also important that job seekers polish off their resumes, ensuring that they highlight key projects they worked on for previous employers. Students who will be working for the first time this summer can add volunteer and community projects they worked on in place of previous paying work experience. They should also include extracurricular projects, including student organizations, they spearheaded. (Don’t skip this. Even MBA admissions boards focus on community work; it matters.)
Practice interviewing with friends after applying for summer jobs. Typical interview questions include:
- Why do you want to work for this company?
- Why did you choose your major?
- What skills will you bring to the role?
- What are your long and short term career goals?
- How would your best friends describe you?
- How do you describe yourself?
- Why should we hire you?
Landing the Best Summer Jobs
Some of the best summer jobs offer competitive hourly wages, opportunities to develop and strengthen new job skills and the chance to meet new people who may, months later, become key networking contacts to land paying ad hoc work assignments through. When it comes to the types of companies that traditionally beef up their hiring during summer months, restaurants, country clubs, community centers that have swimming pools, beaches and amusement parks often lead the pack. These companies hire workers like waiters, waitresses, caddies, cashiers and lifeguards. Other popular summer jobs include babysitting, newspaper delivery, summer camp instructor and tutoring jobs.
Major corporations operating in financial services, technology and retail industries also hire summer workers. However, some of these jobs are filled as early as April. Teens and adults who have parents, friends and other relatives who work at major corporations are encouraged to ask these people to search in-house corporate job boards and let them know of temporary or summer job opportunities.
People who land these jobs may perform administrative or customer service work, answering telephones, preparing corporate presentations, etc. College students working summer jobs as interns should check with the recruiter at the company they’ll be working for to get details on the types of projects they will be completing. Be open to taking initiative and offering to help with projects that may not have been previously set aside for college interns.
Where to Find Summer Jobs
In regards to the job search, there are various online and offline tools available to teens and adults seeking for summer work. For example, there is SnagAJob.com, Allretailjobs.com, Monster, CareerBuilder, Zip Recruiter, Indeed, local job banks and the classified ad section of local newspapers. High school guidance counselors and college career counselors are also good resources to contact when sourcing for summer jobs. LinkedIn also post summer internships.
Don’t forget local retailers. Stop by these small businesses and ask them if they are hiring. Local small business associations also list summer jobs. People who want to work summer jobs should also check out malls, hotels, motels, golf clubs, swimming pools, beach management organizations, tourist attractions, amusement parks, grocery stores and local restaurants.
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Sources:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/05/23/summer-hiring-heats-up-for-teens-college-students (Fox Business: Summer Hiring Heats Up for Teens, College Students)
http://www.snagajob.com/employers/blog/snagajobs-2015-summer-hiring-survey-reveals-favorable-outlook-summer-workers (Snagajob.com: Snagajob’s 2015 Summer Hiring Survey Reveals Favorable Outlook for Summer Workers)
